At night, most of the people at the Fire Temple were already asleep. The remaining awakened individuals were mostly in their rooms, with only Hyuga Hizashi having left his room to practice Gentle Fist in the temple's quiet courtyard.
The main technique of the Hyuga Gentle Fist is the Eight Trigrams Palms, which is not entirely identical to the Baguazhang from Fumori Masaki's previous life, but shares similar underlying principles. "Circle" is the core of Baguazhang, and each move and stance contains the laws of nature. The Hyuga ancestors have practiced Gentle Fist for generations, developing it to an extremely high level.
Relying on the millennium-old tradition of Gentle Fist, the Hyuga clan holds a crucial position in the shinobi world. Although the Hyuga clan generally does not learn traditional Five-Element ninjutsu, over many years of accumulation, the variety of Hyuga Gentle Fist techniques is countless, basically capable of dealing with any enemy.
There's the close-quarters Eight Trigrams Gentle Fist, the long-range Eight Trigrams Empty Palm and Twin Lion Fists, and the absolute defense of Rotation... Over a thousand years, the Hyuga ancestors encountered all sorts of opponents, and various countermeasures have long been recorded in the Gentle Fist system. Perhaps there are no overpowered techniques, but it is comprehensive enough.
Hyuga Hizashi felt that the tranquil environment of the Fire Temple was very suitable for practicing Gentle Fist. Performing each move here, it felt as if he could perceive the subtle impact of his every action on the natural environment, deeply embodying the essence of Gentle Fist. Even though he was in an unfamiliar place, he couldn't resist practicing.
Hyuga Hizashi wasn't afraid of being secretly observed by others. Firstly, without the Byakugan, merely having the Gentle Fist training methods would make it difficult to truly apply them. Secondly, he had activated his Byakugan during his practice, and within its visual range, there was almost nothing that could remain hidden.
Hyuga Hizashi practiced for nearly an hour before stopping. Although the time was long, he only had a thin layer of sweat on his body. Hyuga Gentle Fist also demands a very high degree of body control.
He gently exhaled, his breath faintly visible in the chilly air, like a sharp arrow. Hyuga Hizashi slowly retracted his stance, then looked in one direction in the courtyard and asked, "Is there anything else?"
Hyuga Hizashi had known that this person was watching nearby, but he hadn't stopped practicing. If asked why, it was because the other party was also a member of the Hyuga clan, and he saw no need to conceal anything in front of them. Although he had not yet been branded with the Caged Bird seal, his father had taught him some main family secret techniques because of this, and logically the other party shouldn't have been peeking. However, Hyuga Hizashi felt that he would still become a member of the branch family in the future, and combined with some other reasons, he simply allowed the other party to observe.
A person in an Anbu uniform appeared before Hyuga Hizashi. He gently removed his mask, revealing a handsome face, and said, "It's been a long time, Hizashi-sama."
This person was Hyuga Kai, who once fought alongside Fumori Masaki and is now a trusted Hyuga clan member. Although he was considerably older than Hyuga Hizashi,
because Hyuga Hizashi was a child of the main family and had not yet even been designated as a branch family member, his status was above Hyuga Kai's, which is why Hyuga Kai addressed him respectfully.
"Kai-kun." Hyuga Hizashi bowed slightly. Although his status was higher, Hyuga Kai was a trusted subordinate of the Hokage and his senior. Furthermore, when he was young, Hyuga Kai was a leading figure in the Hyuga branch family. Even if Hyuga Hizashi might become the leader of the branch family in the future, it wouldn't be appropriate to lord it over an elder. Both out of sentiment and reason, he showed respect.
"Seeing Hizashi-sama's Gentle Fist mastery just now, your progress is truly astonishing. I estimate you'll catch up to me very soon. Truly worthy of a child of the main family," Hyuga Kai began with a compliment, expressing his surprise at Hyuga Hizashi's Gentle Fist proficiency.
"It was just a momentary inspiration," Hyuga Hizashi said humbly, then asked, "Kai-kun, coming to find me in the dead of night, it can't just be for pleasantries, can it? You must be on a mission, protecting Miss Kana, right? Is it really alright for you to leave like this?"
"There are others present, so leaving for a short while is fine. Besides, a girl's space is very private, and we can't get too close. Although we are the Hokage's direct unit, those two in that room are not simple individuals," Hyuga Kai said, referring to Kana and Asuna. Even as a direct subordinate of the Hokage, his status was not superior to theirs.
"Then, Kai-kun, you risked temporarily leaving your post to come here. Is there something you wish to say?" Hyuga Hizashi asked.
"Of course." Hyuga Kai nodded slightly and said, "Hizashi-sama, what are your thoughts about the future?"
"What do you mean?" Hyuga Hizashi couldn't help but frown slightly.
"According to clan rules, Hizashi-sama should have been branded with the Caged Bird curse seal long ago, but you still haven't been. Not only that, you can even be chosen as a Guardian Ninja to go to the capital. Has Hizashi-sama not noticed the changes in the outside environment?" Hyuga Kai said.
Hyuga Hizashi fell silent for a moment. He and his older brother, Hyuga Hiashi, were twins, but due to a difference in their birth times, he became the younger brother. Normally, this wouldn't matter, but in the Hyuga clan, this was the dividing line between the main family and the branch family. Hyuga Hizashi should have been branded with the Caged Bird curse seal at the age of three, thereby having his Byakugan restricted and his life bound, becoming a member of the branch family tasked with protecting the main family's safety.
However, due to the new Shinobi Sect ideology promoted by Fumori Masaki, the principles of equality and independence deeply attracted the Hyuga branch family members who had long suffered under the main and branch family system. Even the strictly hierarchical Hyuga main family could not forcefully suppress them in such an environment and could only choose to ease tensions.
Fortunately, the Hyuga clan's millennium-old traditions still held significant influence. Although there were voices of discontent, the main and branch family system remained unshaken for now. To prevent the situation from worsening, the Hyuga main family adopted a series of conciliatory measures, such as improving the treatment of branch family members. Hyuga Hizashi was spared the Caged Bird curse seal for this very reason.
However, Hyuga Hizashi understood that this was merely a temporary measure, and he would certainly be branded with the Caged Bird curse seal in the future. Having received traditional education, he had mentally prepared himself from the beginning, but he couldn't deny that he was actually very unwilling to accept such a fate.
It was just that Hyuga Hizashi had many concerns, such as the traditions of the Hyuga family. Among his worries, a significant one was that if the main and branch family system truly faltered, the resentful branch family might do something to the main family, and his brother Hiashi would definitely become a target.
The Hyuga's main and branch family system was a millennium-old problem. It wasn't that no one saw the conflict between the main and branch families, but after such a long accumulation, it wasn't something that could be easily changed. The branch family yearned for freedom, while the main family worried that a branch family without restraints would seek revenge, thus bringing huge losses to the clan.
"What are you trying to say?"
"Hizashi-sama being here means you are no ordinary branch family member. Does Hizashi-sama not wish to go further, to cast off the shackles on your body?"
"You!" Hyuga Hizashi's eyes widened instantly. He was not unfamiliar with such remarks. Such voices were common within the Hyuga branch family. Apart from those who were already dissatisfied, most were branch family members who embraced the new ideology. Hyuga Kai, as a trusted subordinate of the Hokage, was even more a believer in the new ideology and a member of the Hyuga branch family who pursued freedom and equality. Hyuga Hizashi knew this clearly.
Yet, he didn't expect the other party to approach him at this time, and from his words, it was clear that the other party was quite radical, which undoubtedly had a great impact on Hyuga Hizashi, who had always been somewhat hesitant.
"Is there someone else behind this?" Hyuga Hizashi seemed to have thought of something and quickly asked.
"No one is behind this. These are my own thoughts. And Hizashi-sama should understand that I am certainly not the only Hyuga branch family member with such thoughts!" Hyuga Kai replied.
Hyuga Hizashi fell silent. Of course, he understood that this wasn't an isolated case; there were many Hyuga branch family members with such thoughts. However, the radical ones were relatively few. The vast majority of Hyuga branch family members only hoped for improved treatment and didn't necessarily want to completely abandon the main and branch family system. But the radical faction hoped for the complete abolition of the system, and their radical actions made the Hyuga main family worried, making it difficult for them to decide to give up the system.
His previous question was because Hyuga Hizashi worried that this was the Hokage's intention. The Third Hokage, Fumori Masaki, held very high prestige in Konohagakure, especially among civilian ninja, who almost rallied around the Hokage. If the current civilian ninja were to unite, they would form a powerful force that even ninja clans could not ignore. If the Hokage truly intended to interfere in Hyuga family matters, the Hyuga clan would indeed be in considerable danger.
This was not an exaggeration. The previous incident of the rogue ninja group marked the first time Konoha's higher-ups intervened in the internal affairs of a ninja clan, and it was reasonable and legitimate, protecting the rights of the Uchiha clan. This set a precedent. In the future, as long as there was a legitimate reason, the Hokage's intervention in the Hyuga family's internal affairs would no longer be the absolute taboo it once was.
"Kai-kun, you should understand that if things go too far, the damage to the clan will be too great. The Hyuga clan has endured until now, and the main and branch family system is indispensable!"
Although the main and branch family system was not very humane, in the past thousand years, if it weren't for the system uniting the Hyuga clan and minimizing internal strife, how would the Hyuga clan have endured for a millennium?
The Uchiha clan, equally powerful as the Hyuga, suffered from internal family disputes that led to kin-killing. According to Hyuga clan records, the Uchiha clan came close to extinction at least twice, whereas the Hyuga clan never experienced such a thing, precisely because of the main and branch family system.
"Hizashi-sama, I'm not unaware that the main and branch family system might have been a very good method for the Hyuga clan in the past. However, times are different now. In the future, the disparity in people's status will certainly not be as vast as in the past. Under the ideological guidelines promoted by Hokage-sama, equality and democracy will become the main theme. If the Hyuga clan doesn't make changes, it might face a truly catastrophic disaster then!"
"Perhaps that's alarmist; the situation won't be that severe."
"Hizashi-sama, please think it over carefully. If you act decisively now, it might bring temporary pain, but in the future, it will lead to long-term peace and stability. Your current identity and status are special; now is the time to lead everyone. It is precisely for this reason that I risked coming to you." Having said this, Hyuga Kai bowed slightly to Hyuga Hizashi. He had said his piece; now it was up to Hyuga Hizashi to consider it carefully.
Hyuga Kai disappeared into the night, leaving Hyuga Hizashi standing alone in the courtyard, silent for a long time...